Review articleIndirect decompression in spinal surgery

- This article discusses indirect spinal decompression procedures.
- Such procedures may broaden the options for surgical treatment.
- Such procedures may decrease the risk of spinal nerve tissue injury.

Indirect decompression in spinal surgery means decompression of spinal nerve tissues, such as spinal cord and nerve, without resecting the compressing tissue. Indirect spinal decompression procedures largely can be divided into segmental procedures and global spinal alignment procedures. Segmental procedures are mainly performed by the distraction between two vertebrae, which lead to the opening of the neural foramen and increases the epidural space. Such distraction can be performed through the disc space or using posterior instrumentation. Global spinal alignment procedures allow the spinal cord to migrate dorsally away from areas of anterior compression. Understanding the indirect spinal decompression procedures may broaden the options for surgical treatment and decrease the risk of spinal nerve tissue injury.